Report by Mark Vickery at Spytty Park

Newport County 2 (Jarvis 9, Rose 73)

Barrow 2 (Boyes 5, Baker 90+ pen)

Attendance: 1,315

County fail to kill the game off

PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS

A must and should win game by any standards and with Barrow suffering from defensive injuries I expect us to be positive  

CONDITIONS

Cloudy with some very light rain, mild and light breeze, pitch was glossy but remained in decent condition     

SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT

Improved after static lacklustre first half but naivety continues to bug us

TURNING POINT

Nothing noteworthy

THE MATCH

County made just one change with Andrew Hughes injured, he was replaced by Lee Baker. County made the early running but were undone with far too much ease as early as the third minute. A quick move on the right side Barrow saw Smith quick to set up a cross for the unmarked Rutherford who played a vicious first time cross into the area which Boyes glanced into the left corner from 10 yards ahead of Miller. It was not the first time season County had conceded from this situation with them being slow to close down play and then pick up on the marking. County responded well despite the setback with Foley making some determined raids down the left channel and some probing balls into the area for McAllister and Jarvis but the Barrow defence were strong in dealing with. County had won a batch of corners from their early pressure and it paid off on 9 minutes when Foley whipped a good delivery in from the left side which Warren read well at the back post directing a good header back into the six yard box and Jarvis got the vital touch to score. County made efforts to build on their equaliser but were continually let down by a combination of bad distribution and lack of movement to trouble a Barrow defence happy to put all men behind the ball on times. However, Barrow were still a threat to County with some quick breaks forward with Rutherford providing a decent outlet on the right side. County had some decent situations coming forward but lack of movement in the final third allowed Barrow to stifle a lot of their play. On 25 minutes, County did create a more efficient move with Rose doing well to drift inside to pick up the loose ball and he played a quick through ball to find Jarvis. The striker got himself facing forward and carried his run before blasting a good effort from 20 yards just past the right post. County had a better spell of disjointed pressure and went close on 32 minutes when a loose Barrow clearance was seized upon by McAllister who set up Foley who blasted a powerful straight at the keeper from 20 yards. Barrow continued to absorb the County threat well and look for holes on the break with Boyes doing well on the left channel and Rutherford on the right. On 35 minutes, Rutherford was close when he was allowed to drift inside unattended and blasted a good low from 20 yards just past the left post. Foley was then booked by for a late challenge on Smith near the right side of the area. Passion raised as the game approached half time, with Hulbert booked for delaying a County free kick and Nicholas also booked for dissent. From the resultant free kick Foley had a snapshot which failed to trouble the keeper

Barrow made a change after the break with Rutherford being replaced by Mackreth. Despite the setback Barrow show their intention inside the first minute attacking the County left side when Mackreth made a forceful run down the right side of the area to the byline. His low cross looked more hopeful than anything and County were able to clear at the back post with Robson putting it out for a corner. Pipe was booked somewhat harshly for a challenge on Barrow right back Nicholas moments later. County were awarded corner on 55 minutes from the right side by Rose and despite a decent delivery County were lacking presence to make it count. County made change moments later with Buchanan replacing Jarvis and Rogers coming off for Gilligan. County had struggled to provide natural width for much of the game although Foley did his best on the left flank. On 63 minutes, it nearly paid off when he drove down the left channel and cut a clever ball back from the byline which Buchanan stubbed goalwards from 8 yards but Farrell was able to clear inside the six yard area. Barrow made a change on 70 minutes with Almond being replaced by Baker and County responded with McAllister being replaced by Darryl Knights. County got their noses in front in somewhat bizarre fashion on 73 minutes when Buchanan rode calls for offside down the left side of the area and his shot from an acute angle was blocked by a defender, the follow up from Foley was saved by the keeper and Rose stabbed the ball home inside the six yard despite the attentions of Farrell on the line. County were buoyed by the goal and a Knights cross on 78 minutes from the right flank invited Foley to head inside the area from 10 yards but the ball went just past the right post. Barrow continued to look threatening down their right channel with County forced into conceding a few free kicks in threatening positions. There was another chance for County on 80 minutes when a Rose corner from the right side caused problems for Barrow and Buchanan saw his header only half cleared and Warren then stooped with a good header from 8 yards which was cleared from inside the six yard area. Another change soon followed for Barrow with Brooke replacing Smith as they continued to break quickly coming forward. County had opportunities to kill the game on the break with Barrow committed but paid the price in injury time resulting from bad decision making with the ball further up the pitch. Foley lost possession just inside the Barrow half and they were quick to move the ball across to the right channel with Mackreth  finding Cook at the front post and he coaxed Gilligan into a needless challenge which resulted in a penalty. Baker stepped to slot home into the right corner giving Thompson no chance. With the game already in injury time County had little chance to response and left the pitch dejected after the effort they had put in

Thompson (7) – kicked well in general despite being put under pressure, had few saves to make from open play and safe with his collections

Robson (6) – not really put under a lot of pressure, tackled well but expected more of him to influence a passive right side and rarely got beyond the half way

Warren (7) – did well on set pieces with his presence in the air, forced into some hurried headers on crosses but coped well

Miller (6) – put under some pressure in the air but showed good leap against bigger man, distribution was erratic from deep under pressure       

Baker (6) – forced to defend deeply for much of the game and not really saw a lot of him coming forward. When he did get forward crossing was rusty 

Pipe (7) – drove forward winning several good tackles and offered plenty of verve with the ball, less influence in final third today 

Rogers (5) – did a job stifling threat but influence to make things happen not evident and faded in second half

Foley (7) – did his best to offer width and got some good crosses in which deserved better. Had a couple of decent chances in the air but weak with headers      

Rose (8) – offered movement and energy throughout and made some intelligent runs, used ball effectively and provided good set pieces          

Jarvis (6) – well positioned on goal and always looked best when he got facing forward. Held ball better today and offered more strength

McAllister (5) – not in the game enough, stood on the toes of defender too much and saw little threat from him despite some neat lay offs                

SWOT ANALYSIS OPPONENTS

Strengths – their work and team ethic got them a point, they were organised defensively and countered well to probe weaknesses

Weaknesses – two centre backs were not really exploited, took time to clear the ball and were not the most mobile, gave away several fouls in dangerous areas         

Opportunities – they broke well from deep and despite one right side player being injured they had another to come on and cause problems   

Threats – Rutherford and Boyes carried the ball strongly and had an eye for the goal.

OFFICIALS

A Davies (7) – got most of the key decisions spot on, booked when the game became heated and kept control well  

MAN OF THE MATCH

Danny Rose – Stood out by far as the best player on the pitch, quick with his use of the ball and knew how to pull players around

IF YOU WERE ANTHONY HUDSON WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

County showed a good response after going behind early but were lacklustre and lacking width and invention for much of the first half. There were too many players hiding and not showing enough movement to demand the ball in the final third. The depleted Barrow defence did not look particularly comfortable when challenged but when County did have the ball there was simply not enough moment or players getting into threatening positions. County have been slow to close down crosses several times this season and whilst they continue to offer this luxury then they will always be on the back-foot. Despite an improvement in the second half with County offering more cohesion and understanding, Barrow always looked capable on the break and the late goal was deserved on their part.